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Coxswain · U.S. Navy

John Dempster

Coxswain John Dempster, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions between January 13 and 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 13 - 15, 1865Born in Scotland

Coxswain John Dempster, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry between January 13 and 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. New Ironsides. Dempster was about 26 years old.

16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Dempster was born in 1839 in Scotland — one of 41 recipients born in Scotland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC ; Freedoms Foundation (1863 design), Valley Forge, PA.

Dempster is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Dempster served on board the U.S.S. New Ironsides during action in several attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864; and 13, 14, and 15 January 1865. The ship steamed in and took the lead in the ironclad division close inshore and immediately opened its starboard battery in a barrage of well-directed fire to cause several fires and explosions and dismount several guns during the first two days of fighting. Taken under fire as she steamed into position on 13 January, the New Ironsides fought all day and took on ammunition at night despite severe weather conditions. When the enemy came out of his bomb-proofs to defend the fort against the storming party, the ship's battery disabled nearly every gun on the fort facing the shore before the cease-fire orders were given by the flagship.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Scotland — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. 1839
    Born in Scotland
  2. January 13 - 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 26. U.S.S. New Ironsides

Biography

John Dempster (c. 1839 – unknown) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “John Dempster (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 13 - 15, 1865

JB James Barnum Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 RB Richard Binder Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 EB Edward R. Bowman Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 WC William Campbell Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 WD William Dunn Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 TE Thomas English Signal Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 CF Charles H. Foy Signal Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 Isaac N. Fry Orderly Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 EH Edmund Haffee Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1865 JH Joseph B. Hayden Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 TJ Thomas Jones Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865 NL Nicholas Lear Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865

See all 17 recipients for January 13 - 15, 1865 →

Same unit

JW Joseph White Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

FH Franklin Hogan Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 GG George Norton Galloway Private · Army Civil War · 1864 HP Hiram W. Purcell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 SJ Samuel Johnson Private · Army Civil War · 1862 James Milton Pipes Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 William L. Graul Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.